Three and a half weeks may seem like a lifetime for some, depending on the circumstances, but for Rob and Julie Sasker the time flew by when the couple got a chance to take part in an African hunting safari.

Although the trip of a lifetime only lasted less than a month, it actually started over a year and a half ago.

Julie’s best friend Melinda Johnson of Malica, Minn., purchased a safari hunt for four at a Safari Club International banquet and invited the Saskers to join her and her husband Steven to go on the hunt with them.

“I never even checked with Rob. I just said, I’m game,” laughed Julie.

Knowing that Rob had always wanted to go to Africa, Julie told him what was going on and the more the two couples talked about it, the more excited they got.

After paying for half of their trip, the Saskers began the process of getting their shots.

“We were headed to the east cape of Africa and the area is malaria free so we only needed Hepatitis A and B,” explained Julie.

After lining up a second hunt, about 200 miles southeast of their first scheduled hunt, the couples bought airfare tickets.

And, on Sunday, Aug. 19, they left Atlanta, Ga. on a 16.5 hour direct flight to Johannesburg, South Africa.

“We left Atlanta in the dark and landed in Johannesburg in the dark,” laughed Julie.

The couples were met at the airport by the Afton House and they were cleared through customs and their firearms were cleared through police security.

“At that point Rob and I looked at each other and said that the two hours we spent in Sioux Falls at Homeland Security was well worth it as we had no problems clearing with our firearms,” said Julie.

The following morning the couples flew to Port Elizabeth where they were met by the professional hunter (PH) and taken to the game preserve.

Julie recalled, “It was a four and a half hour drive in a Toyota Land Cruiser where we met Richard and Marion Holms of Richard Holms Safaris.”

After getting settled, the group started hunting on Wednesday, Aug. 22.

Having received hunting packages, the Saskers knew which animals they would be allowed to shoot during the trip. They included a Common Springbuck, Dyker, Gemsbok and a Mountain Reedbuck.

Besides the animals listed, Julie took an Impala and Rob took a female Blessbuck that was a cull hunt.

After 10 days, the couple had shot all of their animals and moved on to their second safari hunt.